How is your office organized? Does it flow smoothly and appear free of clutter? Or is the overall feel haphazard? Organization is vital to keeping your practice growing. Every aspect of the patient experience, from the moment they enter the office until they leave, should run smoothly. Organization and flow are the keys to running an efficient office, and this formula goes a long way toward ensuring patient satisfaction.

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Tips for Optimizing Office Organization:

Don’t overcrowd your spaces. Make sure your patients feel at home in your waiting area. Choose comfortable seats spaced well apart. Make sure tables and magazine racks are neat and organized. Each patient should feel like an individual, not like they are lost in a crowd. Whenever possible, avoid overscheduling. You don’t want to have an unexpected surge of irritated patients sitting in a cramped waiting room. To address this potential issue, keep extra room available to accommodate a sudden patient overflow.

Clear physical clutter. Less is more. Keep the receptionist area within line of sight of the door and keep it free of knickknacks. Patients need to be able to complete and return paperwork as quickly and efficiently as possible. This keeps the office running smoothly and helps ensure a more comfortable patient experience. Clutter also creates a sense of unease. Get in the habit of cleaning these areas regularly to reduce stress and boost productivity. You want spare but not sterile. 

 Clear paper and digital clutter. Dental offices operate in both paper and digital spaces. Put a system in place to organize and filter work emails and digital files, in addition to a system for paper documents. Prioritize different types of emails so you can easily and distinctly separate what needs immediate attention, what can wait, and what is just junk.  

Create a pleasing flow. Organize your office to flow in a single direction, much like a river. From the time a patient enters the waiting area, goes into an operatory, and checkout, they should not have to double back or wonder where to go Ensure exam spaces are easily accessible from the waiting area, so patients move seamlessly from one station to another.

These are a few ways that organizing your dental office can ensure a more enjoyable experience for your team as well as your patients. If you’re ready for a practice consultation or need other helpful tips, our dental consultant service stands ready to help.